Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society was formed, almost by accident, in 1967, when two local men had their own bonfires destroyed before the 5^th November, and decided to have a community bonfire, with forty of their friends and 50 torches, along with fireworks and a small set piece, on the local allotments.

Within two years the society were using 1500 torches in four processions and within five years they had over 500 members.  Today the society marches with a large number of visiting societies, making an impressive snake around the Nevill estate, headed up with their own colourful costumes and green and white striped guernseys.  Topical cartoon or toy related tabs are usually the order of the day with Nevill, last year a giant Lego Batman was hauled through the streets to meet a firey, explosive end, in recognition of the 50^th birthday of Lego and the Batman film, the Dark Knight, which had been released earlier in the year.

Events kick off at six when the first procession forms up in Highdown Road for a march to the green, where poppies will be lit and the Martyrs’ Memorial will also be set off.  The Last Post will be played and there will be a minutes silence, before the procession returns to Highdown Road.

At half seven the main procession will form up and leave at around quarter to eight.  Taking around seventy five minutes, it will wind its way around most of Nevill before heading down to The Green and up the Nevill Road to the firesite at Landport Bottom, which, confusingly, is neither where the Landport Estate is or the bottom of anywhere!  It’s more commonly known as “The Race Hill” and it’s where Borough Bonfire have their fireworks on the fifth!

After the fireworks have completed the final procession will form up in Highdown Road, do a loop of Firle Crescent and Mount Harry Road before returning the the headquarters for Bonfire Prayers!

Don’t forget to support Nevill by buying a programme, which are available from the shops on the estate and by paying the small £3 charge for adults to enter the firesite.  Don’t forget that accompanied kids are free!  There will be a collection for charities along the route, please don’t forget to give generously!

If you want to support and up and coming bonfire society, then maybe Eastbourne will be the night for you.  Reformed after a long absence in 2001, Eastbourne is a small yet friendly society, who can be seen with their distinctive banner and unevenly spaced Guernsey stripes at all of the main events in Sussex.

Advertising themselves as a family friendly event, the discharging of rook scarers, flares and other scary things in the procession is strictly prohibited and the procession will actually take place along the promenade in the town, rather than along the road.

It’s no great secret in bonfire circles that Eastbourne have had a hard time with the council, who have made it difficult  even for torches to be part of the procession in the past, I believe citing reasons such as “fire risk to buildings” as an excuse not to have a torchlit procession.

The procession will leave about 7:30 from Silverdale Cross and end with an explosive firework display and beacon on the beach around 8:30, behind the bandstand, so a nice early one and good for the kids, with the added advantage that the area is well lit and policed, making it one of the safest events on the calendar.

One final note, it is illegal to drink on the streets in Eastbourne, and accordingly drinking is prohibited both in the procession and in the crowd.

Our final bonfire preview this week is for Firle, who have a long history and are the only big society that don’t invite other societies to attend their procession.  Not because they are an unfriendly lot, but because there are so many members and such a small village, that there just would be room for everyone!  Famous for its fire banners coming down the hill, Firle is a great destination, but being small, it’s often overcrowded, so  hopefully the clash with Fletching this year will help relieve some of this.  Winner of the “Where In Sussex Best Bonfire Brew” in 2005, I will be sad to not be attending this year.  There is usually a charge for parking at Firle Place and the fireworks are always spectacular.  Those heading to Firle hoping for something controversial will be sadly disappointed, as Firle bonfire is, as it always has been, a celebration for the villagers of Firle.

Everyone in Sussex is encouraged to take part in spare night, with a map available for those wishing to take part.

Please comment if you will or won’t be taking part in Spare Week Bonfire Celebrations.

Click here for a general map based on my personal knowledge. This is unofficial but shows parking, procession route and fire site.

Official parking is at Milk Lodge Farm and this is where the procession will form up.  The procession will form up at 7:30pm and move off at 7:45pm. As far as I know the procession route will be up to the village square, and down the B2100 to Town Row, where shelter from the rain last year was most welcome.  There will be a twenty minute break at the railway bridge before heading back to the village and the firesite, where there will be a fairground.

Rotherfield is the second “village” bonfire of the season, but is the first to have both a fire and fireworks, with Mayfield two weeks ago only having fireworks.  The village square itself is always attractive on carnival night, with traditional sweet stands, steam engines, musical organs and bands all making appearances in the past.

Rookies are not permitted in the procession, but boom boxes are, so if you are in the crowd, be prepared for some noise.  For members of the procession, a playpen is provided for “antics”…. I’ll say no more than that.

Fireworks are scheduled for around 10pm at the firesite.

All the above info is accurate to my knowledge, but I haven’t got it from any official sources!

The Rotherfield bonfire procession also has floats from local organisations at the tail end, making an attractive finish to the night, with all the kids in fancy dress.

Access to the parking is from Crowborough.  I remember finding a parking are on the approach from the Argos Hill-Mark Cross road a couple of years back, but it was full and I parked on the road, and walked into the village, which is a fair old trot.  I believe the parking area was somewhere around here (click for map).  This is “unofficial from my brain” so it may not be correct.

There is no public transport available and don’t forget all roads around the village will be closed to the public from around 7pm.

Last year was very wet, so hopefully this year will be a bit kinder, as we have had at all events thus far in 2009!

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LICENCED TRADERS IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE AND PUBS AND AVOID THE UNAUTHORISED SCALLYWAGS!

Rotherfield and Mark Cross Bonfire Celebrations are also known as Rotherfield Bonfire, Rotherfield Carnival, Rotherfield Bonfire Parade, Rotherfield Bonfire Procession and (probably) Rotherfield Fireworks Night!  Phew!

The main event of the evening gets underway at 7pm, when wreths are laid at the war memorial, which I believe is at All Saints Church, next to the green.

The procession gets underway at 7:30, from Chapel Green, just after the crowning of the carnival queen at 7:15.

After leaving the green at 7:15, two hours of processing through the streets of the town get underway, the details of which can be found in the programme, which is available in the town for £1. The route of the procession will take the procession of torches and floats through the streets and back to the Chapel Green area for about 9:30pm.

It should be noted there will be no fireworks this year for financial reasons and the procession will NOT end at the leisure centre but WILL finish back at the start.

Roads will be closed from around 6pm and parking is available around the area, on street and in car parks, but please be sensible about where you park and be considerate to residents.

Trains arrive at xx:46 from Uckfield to London Bridge and xx:03 from London Bridge/Hurst Green to Uckfield. The last train TO Uckfield is 22:46 and the last train to London is 23:03. It should be noted the train station is a fair walk from Crowborough town centre.

For more info visit the Crowborough Bonfire and Carnival Society Website – also please note the insurance issuses they have been having and the costs involved

Featuring snaps from Crowborough, Fletching, Rotherfield & Mark Cross, Hastings, Nevill, Lewes Borough, South Heighton and Barcombe’s 2008 celebrations, it’s just something I threw together last night, and I hope that you can spot some memories!  Oh yes, and there is at least one duplicated picture – ooopsy!

Thanks to Roy Clever, Les Coppard and their team for another slick effort. Great fireworks, great attendance and great weather… perfect!

Here are some pictures from the night, for the full selection visit my Flickr Collection to see the lot!

I’ll see you all at the Carol Service on the 7th!

The weather is looking mild and dry, the costumes are slightly singed, the torches are ready and tomorrow night it’s BARCOMBE BONFIRE NIGHT!

I visited Barcombe today on my bike, saw the bonfire being built, tested the pub, took some pictures and got excited

I went to Barcombe Bonfire for the first time last year, and even considered joining, because it’s the closest society to work and I felt they did a really good job!

So go to the village shop, buy your programme, give generously to the buckets and enjoy the night!

Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to make Sussex Bonfire a success this year!

• Uckfield – It piddled down and fortunately I couldn’t go!
• Crowborough – It was frickin’ hot!  25c when I left tee hee
• Mayfield – didn’t go, can’t remember the weather!
• Burgess Hill – Couldn’t go…..
• Rotherfield – Rain and Wind and very soggy lol
• Fletching – Fog!
• Hastings – Perfect weather, huge crowds, not enough torches
• Nevill – Great show – had to scamper there from work and took pictures!
• Newick – Excellent night and the rain stayed away (mostly)!  Yay!
• Lewes –
• South Heighton – our night!  And the rain stayed away!
• Barcombe…… the end

]]> http://www.whereinsussex.org.uk/blog/2008/11/14/barcombe-bonfire-eve/feed/ 4 http://www.whereinsussex.org.uk/blog/2008/11/08/barcombe-bonfire-2008/ http://www.whereinsussex.org.uk/blog/2008/11/08/barcombe-bonfire-2008/#comments Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:27:18 +0000 Two-Wheel-Steve http://www.whereinsussex.org.uk/blog/?p=365 This Saturday sees the grand finale of the Sussex Bonfire Season – yes it’s time for Barcombe Bonfire!

Barcombe always has a great following from all the local boyes and gals, as well as the rest of the bonfire community, who want one last blast.  There are a couple of processions, great fireworks and, more importantly, a “playpen” for letting those rookies off one last time!

To be assured of parking arrive early.  Processions start from around 19:30 usually, I will try and find out more precise info, last year we marched to Barcombe Mills old station first, then back to the Royal Oak, then back to the fire site.  There is also a final procession back to the village.

The firesite is on the left, by the junction of the road leading to the church, as you approach from Barcombe Mills.  As there are many routes into Barcombe, I will not recommend any particular.  The “easiest” way of finding Barcombe though is to approach from Lewes, heading north from the Cufail Tunnel roundabout towards UCKFIELD on the A26.  About 400 yards after the second turning to Ringmer on the right, just before the United Garage there is a junction for Barcombe on the LEFT.  Google Map of the area and facilities.

Facilities in the vilage centre include the pub (Royal Oak) food and refreshments etc.  Please note that the village is small and crowded, so moving along the (long) procession route will be beneficial.  The usual rules apply – no fireworks in the street, no picking up of discarded torches and behave yourself at all times!

I’ll be at Hastings this weekend, wearing the stripes but not in the actual procession, thought I’d have a spectating couple of weeks…

As I write this, the weather forecast is looking good for Hastings Bonfire, which is, of course on October 18th.

All the information for Hastings Borough Bonfire Society’s celebrations are on my previous entry and of course you can visit their website for all the official latest information on bonfire day.

In other news, thanks to Lord Clunk of Piddinghoe for providing the rookies last weekend, they were good fun!  The pictures are a bit thin on the ground due to being in the procession, and also thick fog at the firesite, but I filmed in the playpen and filmed the excellent finale… thanks to FBS for a great show!

READ ON FOR PROCESSION TIMES, PROCESSION (PARADE!) ROUTES, PARKING INFORMATION, BONFIRE LIGHTING TIME, BONFIRE LOCATION, SAFETY INFORMATION AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRAIN INFORMATION!

Hastings holds one of the most traditional and what I would call “proper” bonfire nights in Sussex, with a large crowd always turning out.  They have a website, where more information can be found on the evening.

Having been an evening worker in Hastings for several years, this will be the first year that I have been able to visit Hastings Bonfire as a proper spectator, as well as a participant in the procession.

Parking is always a bit of an issue, as the town centre becomes very busy, but if you turn up early and are sensible, it shouldn’t be a problem.  Follow the signs for Priory Street (TN34 1EA) and/or Priory Meadow (Devonshire Road TN34 1NE or South Terrace entrances) multi story car parks, or find on street parking.  Beware the menace of the traffic wardens, although they don’t appear to operate on this evening in the same way as usual, but I wouldn’t take the chance: they do work until midnight!

The procession starts near The Stade at Rock-a-nor, which is where the A259 bends towards Rye, on the seafront, by the fishing huts, in the Old Town area.  The East Hill beacon is lit and then the fire is brought down to the seafront by the Hastings Runners, who light the procession and start it at 1915.  The procession then heads up the A259 towards Rye, before turning left to the top of High Street and then heading down High Street back to the seafront.  Visitors should note that “High Street” is not the town centre shopping area, but is in the Old Town!

The procession should reach the bottom of High Street, by the Dolphin Fish Bar at around 1945.

The procession will then walk along the seafront, past the firesite, which is on the beach, opposite the fountain roundabout by Iceland and turning right into Albert Road.  The procession will march up to the traffic lights at the bottom of South Terrace, before then looping back to the Town Hall.  They should arrive here at 2010.  There will be a set piece firework as the Mayor meets the HBBS chairman, the procession continues to the America  Ground memorial, where the America Ground declaration is read out by the town cryer and another set piece is discharged.  The America Ground history is quite interesting, and it would be well worth reading this website, to familiarise yourself with the whole reasoning behind the declaration.

From the memorial the procession will parade through Robertson Street around 2030 to the seafront and then left to the firesite, where the bonfire will be lit at around 2100.  Fireworks will be around 2130.

Hastings is well served by trains.  More information can be found at the National Rail Enquiries website or by calling 08457 48 49 50.  There may be changes due to bonfire or weekend engineering work, so it’s well worth finding out.

Please remember to follow the common sense rules for bonfire:

• Don’t pick up discarded torches
• Don’t discharge rookies or other fireworks in the street: it is illegal and you’ll go to jail!
• Follow instructions of the marshals – they are there for your safety
• Don’t climb over barriers or attempt to join the procession
• Don’t do anything else stupid – remember, this is a family event in a public place and there will be children about!
• Do enjoy yourself!

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROCESSION ROUTE ON GOOGLE MAPS

CLICK HERE FOR HASTINGS BOROUGH BONFIRE SOCIETY’S OFFICIAL SITE WITH LATEST INFORMATION